Wrexham

Wrexham's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, health and housing tenure.

The population passed 130,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Wrexham increased by 5.0%, from about 128,000 to 135,000.

The addition of just under 6,400 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of Wales (up 5.5% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Wrexham was home to, on average, 1.9 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Wales

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Wales, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Wrexham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Wrexham increased by two years, from 38 to 40 years.

This industrial area had a higher average age than Telford and Wrekin, a statistically similar local authority area (38 years of age) and remained slightly younger than the average local authority area across Wales (41 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 3,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 2,000.

About 12% of people in Wrexham are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in Wales, Flintshire and Wrexham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fall in proportion of Welsh speakers

The proportion of Welsh speakers in Wrexham fell from 14% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to Census 2011.

There are 1,236 fewer people living here who spoke Welsh compared with 2001, while the number of people who did not spoke Welsh increased by 6,637.

In nearby Flintshire, 13% of people over the age of three could speak some Welsh, down from 14% at the 2001 census. Across Wales, the proportion fell from 21% to 19%.

Monmouthshire was one of the few areas that saw an increase in the proportion of Welsh speakers (from 9.0% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011), while Carmarthenshire saw the largest fall (from 50% to 44%).

The proportion of people who could speak Welsh was lower than across Wales

Percentage of people aged three and over that said they could speak Welsh across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

More single parents

Wrexham saw Wales' second-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Wrexham had a single parent, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 39% to 35%.

The largest increase occurred in Rhondda Cynon Taf (from 12% to 13%).

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Wales

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Disability in Wrexham

Wrexham saw Wales' largest fall in the proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just under 1 in 15 (6.6%) in Wrexham reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 7.5% in 2001. The percentage who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.1% to 4.7%.

Blaenau Gwent saw the next largest fall (from 6.8% to 6.2%).

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Wales

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Wrexham saw Wales' second-largest fall in the proportion of households with adult children living with their parents.

In 2011, just under one in nine (11%) households in Wrexham had only adult children living with their parents, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage with at least one child decreased from 30% to 30%.

The largest decrease occurred in Gwynedd (from 10% to 9.3%).

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was higher than across Wales

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in Wales and the average across Wales, March 2011

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